I am the Rev. Dr. Stephen (Steve) Hastings. I am happy to be here to serve as your Bridge Minister. My wife, Jill, and I live in Winthrop, about an hour up the road.

As a short introduction, I headed off to seminary in 1990 to become a UCC minister, and I’m still ministering in 2025. I technically “retired” about a year ago from the Dover-Foxcroft Congregation Church, UCC. However, I intend to keep serving here and there for a while longer.

I grew up in the wonderful city of Pittsburgh on the tail end of the smoky years and wound up here in New England in the early 80’s when I was assigned to a submarine in overhaul in the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Jill and I met and were married at North Church UCC in Portsmouth. After that, I did some graduate work at Dartmouth and wound up as an environmental consultant in Vermont until entering the ministry. Environmental matters and “creation spirituality” have been central to my sense of call and spirituality, and I even undertook a 10-year, part-time journey at Boston University to get a Ph.D in environmental ethics and creation spirituality. I hope to share some of that with you, as time allows and if the interest is there. Last year I taught a MeSOM class called “Ecology in Christian Faith History.”

Other churches I’ve served in Maine include the UCC churches in Winthrop and Kennebunk, and two Presbyterian churches in Leeds and Hartford. The Leeds experience included the added pleasure of owning a small farm on the Androscoggin where we raised sheep, turkeys, and laying hens. Most recently, I provided sabbatical coverage at Woodfords this summer.

I’ve also been very involved at the Conference level and I currently serve as Chair of the Social Action Committee. That’s certainly become more intense this year, and it may show through on occasion in conversations and sermons. Plenty to talk about from a faith perspective.

I am very much looking forward to worshipping with you and working with you during this transition time. I've had some good conversations with folks here at the church during the interview process and I'm optimistic that we can "bridge" the span between here and a time next spring when you will welcome a new settled minister into the growing ministries and vibrant life of your church.

Pastor Steve